Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1887-02-26
CHARACTER IN HANDWRITING.
4 Hotel Clerk Who Takes a Peculiar
VIA An. a..r.t..s

A Hotel Clerk who Takes Peculiar
View of the Subject.
sis it not indeed true that there il
character in handwriting, especially in
that you find in hotel registers
''But why especially on hotel regis
ters?"
Because Il is in writing his name in
them that the nature of the man more
truly shows itself. When timid man,
and especially one who is not much used
TO travelling enters big hotel, perhaps
in company of dozen others who are
bound ON a similar object, and walks up
to the counter to register he is TO a GER
tain extent inundated, and consequently
not a complete master Of his actions. His
discomposure shows itself instantly to us
who stand behind the counter, and be-
trays itself to even others who may be
near when he writes his name In the
book. A glance at his signature is
enough TO settle the question, and the
man himself feels i'll at ease until he is
assigned to his room and is piloted out
Of the crowd. And even though the
man may become pretty constant trav-
eler, it is unlikely that he viii ever over
come his tendency to nervousness on this
account. There are good many men Of
that stamp going about the world.
''On the other hand, there il certain
number of men who, while not what you
might call timid, are naturally Of a retir-
ing disposition. Such men, when they
come into hotel to register, brace them
selves, as it were, for an ordeal, and con-
sequently when they write their names
In the book they overdo the thing and
give themselves dead away They are
altogether too bold, and we see right
through their assumed courage"
'But how about the really bold and
self-possessed mann
"Oh, the self-possessed man cares
nothing for surroundings, and writes his
name as placidly and unconcernedly In a
crowd as he would in his study, Office or
counting room. We can instantly de-
tect the confident, self-possessed man,
and then again, you see, our register
demonstrates its value"
"Can you always detect the successful
mann"
almost invariably. Not 30 much,
however, by his actual signature in our
book as by his manner of writing it.
There Is self contained, self satisfied
air about his manner Of handling the pen
and pride in the signature itself that
show themselves to US at once, and which
are scarcely ever deceptive"
"How about the unsuccessful men?''
'Oh, it's the same. We can tell them
nine times out Of ten by their behavior
in registering. / tell you, my boy, the
hotel counter applies crucial test to in
dividuaIs.''
docs your theory apply as well to
women as to menF'
''Ahi / thought you'd come to that,
Well, yes and no. But does any theory
apply to womens Well, women, you
know-bIess their little heartsl women
are different from men,
Indeed"
Don't interrupt me. mean that
women-wel, their handwriting is differ
emit from that Of men. There is not so
much individuality 10 IL, l think, and
you have TO judge more from their
manner-from themselves, so to speak"
Here the clerk, having nearly cholred
himself with toOthpicks during his frantic
attempts at explanation, was mercifully
relieved from further suffering by
fresh arrival. The latter was fine look
ing man, OF commanding stature and dis
tinguished appearance, who was greeted
by the hotel clerk with respectful cor
duality, and who inscribed his name in
firm, uncompromising characters upon
the register. That name is one Of the
best known in the Union. and its bearer
is senator Of the United States. The
man and name fitted one another per
fectly IN his case. The one was clearly
indicative Of the other. --Hotel Gazette.